NHLer Rob Ramage’s impaired driving conviction upheld

The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a four-year prison sentence imposed against former NHL player Rob Ramage, who was convicted of impaired driving in the death of Keith Magnuson.

Ramage has been free on bail since he was convicted by a jury in October 2007 of five charges, including impaired driving causing death.

The two retired hockey players were on their way back from a funeral reception just outside Toronto in December 2003, when the car driven by Ramage veered across the road and collided with two vehicles.
Magnuson was killed and Ramage was taken to hospital. Tests indicated a blood alcohol level three times over the legal limit.

The Court of Appeal noted that the Magnuson family does not want Ramage to go to prison and it observed that he has lived an “exemplary life.” But the court concluded it must show “deference” to the original sentence imposed by Justice Alexander Sosna.

Ramage has worked for many years as stockbroker in St. Louis. He is likely to be prohibited from returning to the United States after serving his prison sentence in Canada.